THOUSANDS of multiple sclerosis sufferers are still waiting for a chance to benefit from new drugs, a year on from the launch of a government scheme to make them available, it was revealed yesterday.

THOUSANDS of multiple sclerosis sufferers are still waiting for a chance to benefit from new drugs, a year on from the launch of a government scheme to make them available, it was revealed yesterday.

The drugs can significantly delay the progress of MS, but do not work for every patient.

Under the "risk-sharing" scheme launched by the Department of Health last year, the NHS pays the cost of the drugs - estimated at &#xA3;6,500 to &#xA3;10,000 annually - if the patient responds well, while the drug companies foot the bill if the patient does not.

But figures released by Liberal Democrat health spokesman Paul Burstow suggested that just 1,118 people have so far been recruited to the scheme, out of at least 9,000 who may be eligible.

The MS Society said one of the assessment centres that has run into trouble is Swansea.

Mr Burstow said, "These figures show that people with MS are still facing an uphill battle to get access to drugs that can postpone the advance of multiple sclerosis.

"Delayed prescribing can rob people of years of their life. Early treatment can make a real difference in delaying the progression of MS.

"Ministers call this scheme `risk sharing'. The only people taking a risk are MS sufferers and their families while they wait for the Department of Health to get its act together.

"Every day an MS sufferer has to wait to get on the scheme increases the chances that they will become too disabled to qualify.